Partido Lakas ng Masa

Democratic socialist political party in the Philippines

Politics of Philippines
Political parties
Elections

The Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM; transl. "Party of the Laboring Masses") is a democratic socialist political party in the Philippines.^[2] Created in 2009, it includes as its affiliate the labor group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino and is Sanlakas' political party for purposes of contesting non-party-list elections. It is the umbrella group of various organizations such as Zone One Tondo Organization (ZOTO) and Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralita ng Lungsod (KPML).

The party fielded Leodegario "Ka Leody" de Guzman as its candidate for the 2022 presidential elections.^[1]^[3]^[4]^[5]

Political positions

PLM protested Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip during the Gaza War; a party member remarked that the airstrikes were "Israel's 'Final Solution' to the Palestine people."^[6] PLM remained neutral on the issue of postponing the 2011 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), as a postponement only served to benefit the Liberal Party, while holding the elections would've only promoted the status quo. Instead, the party "supports the continuation of the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the MILF and any group fighting for self-determination in Mindanao."^[7] The party also disapproved of giving former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo any special treatment against her criminal cases.^[8]

On the impeachment of Renato Corona, aside from agreeing that the Chief Justice should be impeached, the party said that members of the Supreme Court of the Philippines are to be selected democratically.^[9]

As a democratic socialist party, PLM participates in the political processes of the state, insisting on elections as a legitimate and viable means of achieving socialism.^[2] It opposes taking the extralegal route preferred and deemed necessary by Marxist–Leninist–Maoist national democrats.^[10] In the 2013 general election, the party supported Ricardo Penson's independent candidacy to the 2013 Senate election,^[11] as well as several candidates in local elections, including one candidate in the 2013 House of Representatives elections. For the 2022 general elections, the party fielded Ka Leody de Guzman for the Presidency, Walden Bello for the vice presidency, and Luke Espiritu, Roy Cabonegro, and David D'Angelo for the Senate.^[1]^[12]^[13]

Radio program

PLM produces the weekly radio program RADYO LAKAS NG MASA (Radio Program of the Labouring Masses) on Radyo Inquirer DZIQ 990 every Saturday from 9–10 AM.

Electoral performance

For president

Election	Candidate	Number of votes	Share of votes	Outcome of election
2010	Did not participate			Did not participate
2016	Did not participate			Did not participate
2022	Leody de Guzman	93,027	0.17%	Lost

For vice president

Election	Candidate	Number of votes	Share of votes	Outcome of election
2010	Did not participate			Did not participate
2016	Did not participate			Did not participate
2022	Walden Bello	100,827	0.19%	Lost

Senate

Election	Candidate	Number of votes	Share of votes	Seats won	Seats after	Outcome of election
2010	Did not participate			0 / 12	0 / 24	Did not participate
2013	Did not participate			0 / 12	0 / 24	Did not participate
2016	Did not participate			0 / 12	0 / 24	Did not participate
2019	Leody de Guzman	893,506	0.25%	0 / 12	0 / 24	Lost
2022	Roy Cabonegro [ceb] David D'Angelo [ceb] Luke Espiritu [ceb]	5,063,147	1.16%	0 / 12	0 / 24	Lost

House of Representatives

Election	District elections	Share of votes	Party-list election	Share of votes	Seats	Outcome of election
2010	Did not participate				0 / 286	Did not participate
2013	10,196	0.04%	Did not participate		0 / 293	Lost
2016	Did not participate				0 / 297	Did not participate
2019	Did not participate		28,824	0.10%	0 / 304	Lost
2022	5,223	0.01%	17,783	0.05%	0 / 316	Lost

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Labor leader Leody de Guzman files candidacy for president". Rappler. October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "'Bakit ikaw: Presidential Job Interview' ang labor leader na si Ka Leody de Guzman". The Manila Times. January 26, 2022.
^ "Former Defense chief, 'Ka Leody' open bids for president too". Manila Standard. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
^ Sarao, Zacarian (September 28, 2021). "Labor leader Leody de Guzman to run for president in 2022 elections". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
^ "Labor group leader Leody De Guzman running for president in 2022". CNN Philippines. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
^ Morelos, Miko L. (January 2, 2009). "RP Muslims protest Israeli air strikes". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
^ "An elitist, 'trapo' ARMM concern". Philippine Daily Inquirer. June 9, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
^ "Government won't oppose hospital arrest for Arroyo". Sun.Star Manila. November 21, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
^ "Justices should be picked via democratic process". Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 28, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
^ Cohen, Miles (February 2, 2020). "Capitalism, Socialism, Communism and the Difference between Social Democracy and Democratic Socialism". Arcadia Political Review.
^ Aning, Jerome (March 3, 2013). "Ricardo Penson seeks to represent those left out". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
^ "Ex-lawmaker Walden Bello throws hat into VP race". cnn. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
^ Guillang, Michelle R. "Labor leader unveils senatorial lineup". Daily Tribune. Retrieved October 22, 2021.